A Brief History of Anime

Japanese Anime refers to the animated movies of the particular type of cartooning by the Asian nation; not be confused with manga, which is the Japanese comic book genre. Anime, in essence, adapted the manga and brought it to life in their specialized techniques of production. It is a worldwide popular type of animation that produces dozens of fresh television episodes and movies, some original, others from a franchise. They are unforgettable when viewing and timeless, going back to its roots a full century ago

Japanese Anime goes back to the dawn of the movie business in the 1910s. While there is debate on which film and what year was the first Japanese anime produced, the first officially released title, Dekobō Shingachō: Meian no Shippai, was released in early 1917. Initially, the country found it a bit difficult to make their own films thanks to foreign export competition and the expense of making anime movies without it being faulty looking. By the 1930s, things started to improve with better techniques and sound was finally being incorporated in their movies. The industry received massive support from an unlikely – and unfortunate – ally, the Imperial Japanese government.

The irony of this is, after the Second World War, the sector would have perfected the entire system and having the most backing when it came to production, since they were virtually untouched throughout. The result was the establishment of two production companies that still function to this day: Toei Animation and Mushi Production. They produced anime that more progressive and visioned than the original anime, featuring characteristics used in current anime. The biggest contribution is the three-second “money shot,” animators focused on single freeze frame that had the most detail than the rest of the frames.

From movies, anime expanded into television and traveled all over the world. Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion, Speed Racer, and Sazae-san all made their debuts in this period. By the 1980s, as anime expanded their genres, a new subculture emerged known as “otaku” describing those who part of the anime (and manga) fandom. Big budget anime films were produced, and two more major companies, Studio Ghibli and Gainax, were established. By the 1990s, however, anime’s finest was really seen on television with Dragon Ball Z, Digimon, Sailor Moon, and, the series based on the video game that would become the biggest global phenomenon, Pokemon.

Since 2000, anime has gone digital and their stories have become more complex, more diversified, and more accessible around the world. 2002s Spirited Away is the highest grossing anime film in history and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, marking the high point in anime writer Hayao Miyazaki’s distinguished career. American animation was massively influenced to make Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Boondocks, and Teen Titans through the rest of the decade. Even the adult-oriented anime genre, where violence and sexual content are accepted (as seen in Quentin Tarentino’s Kill Bill), has become accepted and popularized. Anime has probably reached the plateau of their technical achievements, but their popularity, still behind the likes of Disney movies, can still grow.